Research Article Details
Article ID: | A26826 |
PMID: | 19702910 |
Source: | J Gastroenterol Hepatol |
Title: | Elevation of serum aminotransferase activity increases risk of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have an increased risk of atherosclerosis and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is associated with insulin resistance independently of metabolic factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether NAFLD patients with ALT elevation had a higher risk of carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 190 individuals were enrolled from the health management center. Among them, 20 subjects were excluded due to the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cardiovascular disease. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound examination. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure maximal intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and IMT (mean) > 1.0 mm was defined as the presence of carotid atherosclerosis. RESULTS: NAFLD patients with ALT elevation had increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis than those with normal ALT by Fisher's exact test (P < 0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that serum ALT levels were positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis after adjustment for age, sex, number of metabolic syndrome components or status of metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.44; 95% CI 1.09-1.89; OR, 1.45; 95% CI 1.11-1.91). In addition, the higher the serum ALT levels with every 10 IU/L increment, the greater the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ALT levels are positively associated with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with NAFLD, suggesting that serum ALT levels could serve as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular risk in this special clinical setting. |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.05872.x |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I07 | 1936 | Arteriosclerosis | Build-up of fatty material and calcium deposition in the arterial wall resulting in partial or complete occlusion of the arterial lumen.https://ncit.nci.nih.gov/ncitbrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&ns=ncit&code=C35768 | disease of anatomical entity/cardiovascular system disease/ vascular disease/ artery disease | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D010 | Amoxicillin | Chemical drug | DB01060 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |